Tom Lynch 2025: Suspension, Family, Salary and Career

Every AFL season has its moments that shift the conversation, and for Richmond fans, the story of 2025 keeps circling back to their key forward, Tom Lynch. Between a five-match suspension for striking and questions about his future, it’s been a year that’s tested his reputation as much as his body.

Age: 32 ·
Height: 199 cm ·
Current team: Richmond Tigers ·
AFL debut: 2011 for Gold Coast ·
Premierships: 2019, 2020 ·
Games played: over 200

Eight facts, one theme — Tom Lynch’s 2025 season has been defined by moments where discipline and frustration collided.

Here are the key biographical details for the Richmond key forward.

What happened to Tom Lynch?

Incident at the MCG

The sequence that defined Lynch’s 2025 season began in Round 1, when he was suspended for one match after a bump on Carlton ruckman Tom De Koning, as reported by Sporting News Australia. That ban kept him out of Richmond’s trip to Port Adelaide and set an early pattern.

Mick Malthouse’s reaction

On June 30, 2025, the AFL’s Match Review Officer charged Lynch with striking Adelaide defender Jordon Butts. The grading — intentional conduct, severe impact, high contact — meant the case bypassed the tribunal’s typical process and went straight to a hearing, per Zero Hanger. Former AFL coach Mick Malthouse publicly commented on Lynch’s visible frustration during the match, suggesting the forward’s body language showed a player on edge.

Fallout and media coverage

The incident drew widespread media coverage. Veteran football commentator Mick Malthouse was among those who weighed in, describing Lynch’s actions as out of character for a player of his calibre. The Guardian noted that Lynch’s status as one of the AFL’s highest-paid athletes made the suspension newsworthy beyond typical match-report coverage.

The pattern: two separate suspensions within four months, both for striking, both involving high-contact incidents. For a player with Lynch’s reputation as a premiership-winning forward, the disciplinary record threatens to overshadow the on-field achievements.

Why was Tom Lynch suspended?

Match review findings

The AFL Tribunal found Lynch guilty of striking Jordon Butts in the Tigers’ Round 16 match against Adelaide. On July 1, 2025, the tribunal handed down a five-match suspension, described by ESPN Australia as the longest ban in the 2025 AFL season at the time of reporting. In the same match sequence, Lynch also accepted a $1,000 fine for a separate striking charge, per Zero Hanger.

Sanctions and length of suspension

Lynch accepted a $1,875 fine for engaging in a melee in the first quarter of the same match, as reported by Zero Hanger. Richmond confirmed that Lynch would next be available for selection in Round 22 against St Kilda at the MCG, per Richmond Football Club.

Previous disciplinary record

Lynch’s March 2025 one-match ban for the bump on Tom De Koning means he now has two striking-related suspensions in a single season. According to Sporting News Australia, the earlier incident was graded as careless conduct with medium impact, a lesser charge than the June referral.

The implication: Richmond’s forward line, already without several injured players in 2023-2024, now loses its most experienced target for five matches. The ripple effect extends beyond Lynch’s individual stats — it changes how the entire midfield delivers the ball inside 50.

“He looked like a player carrying frustration. When a forward of his quality starts getting reported twice in one season, it’s a signal that something’s not right.”

Mick Malthouse, former AFL premiership coach

Does Tom Lynch have kids?

Children’s names and ages

Tom Lynch and his wife Holly have two children. The family made appearances on Lynch’s social media, with Instagram posts from Lynch’s verified account showing moments with his children, including birthday celebrations and family outings.

Fatherhood and public appearances

The Lynch family keeps a relatively low profile compared to other AFL player families. Holly Lynch occasionally shares family photos on social media, though both parents are known to guard the children’s privacy. According to Who magazine, the couple prefers to keep their personal life separate from the football spotlight.

The pattern: Among AFL key forwards, Lynch is one of the few who has consistently maintained a clear boundary between public football career and private family life. That choice becomes more notable in 2025, when his on-field discipline has drawn increased media attention.

Who is Tom Lynch married to?

Wedding details

Tom Lynch married Holly Patterson in 2019, the same year he joined Richmond and won his first premiership. The wedding took place in the off-season, with Who magazine reporting that the couple celebrated with family and close friends. Holly Lynch, formerly a retail professional, supports her husband’s career while managing their family.

Partner’s background

Holly Lynch (née Patterson) is described by acquaintances as down-to-earth and close with other AFL partners. The couple met before Lynch’s move to Richmond and have been together through the Gold Coast years, the 2018 All-Australian selection, and the move to Melbourne.

What is Tom Lynch’s salary?

Contract details

Tom Lynch signed a seven-year deal with Richmond in 2018, reportedly worth just shy of $1 million per season, keeping him at the club until 2025, per Fox Sports. A 2025 analysis published by AFL.com.au listed Lynch among 58 players paid $1 million or more in 2025, though the article cautioned that its figures reflect what players were paid in the prior year, not the average value of their contracts.

Salary cap context

Independent salary tracker Superprof Australia placed Lynch’s annual earnings between $1.45 million and $1.55 million, making him one of the highest-paid forwards in the competition. A separate profile on Interesting Football reported the same $1.45 million figure, though the site’s lower editorial tier means its figures carry less weight than the AFL.com.au list.

Endorsements

Lynch has endorsement deals with sportswear brands and appears in promotional content for Richmond-affiliated partners. His public profile, boosted by the premiership years and All-Australian selection, makes him an attractive figure for sponsors, though exact endorsement earnings are not publicly disclosed.

Related reading: Steele Sidebottom: Biography, Career Stats, Family, and More · Marcus Bontempelli: AFL Career, Wife, and Stats

For a deeper look at the incident and its impact on Richmond’s season, see Tom Lynchs suspension details.

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